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The seed banker: This Nuapatna farmer strives to save traditional paddy varieties -Ajit Panda

-Down to Earth

Bijaya Jhankar grows nine traditional varieties of paddy that have a longer harvest duration of 130-150 days

The eyes of Bijaya Jhankar twinkle as he approaches his 1.2 hectare (ha) farm for harvesting paddy. They are unlike any other varieties grown in his village Sanbaheli, which lies in the vast Sunabeda plateau of Odisha’s Nuapada district.

“They yield shorter grains, take longer to mature but are of tremendous sentimental value,” says Biju, as he is fondly called. Most people in Sanbaheli belong to the Chakotia Bhunjia adivasi community, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group.

They have been growing high-yielding varieties, promoted by the state government for upliftment of the community. Biju avoids these crops. “They require chemical pesticides and fertilisers. I have a small land, and do not want to spoil it. The paddy I grow do not require any chemicals,” says Biju.

Biju grows nine traditional varieties of paddy that have a longer harvest duration of 130-150 days. These include scented varieties such as Chandan Baas, Tulsi Baas, Kalkati and Baas Patri; and the unscented Saputri, Garrakanthi, Ranki, Gelei Kanthi, Hirakani, Kulia and Darli. Chandan Baas is his favourite.

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